Mold charging device



Aug. 20,- 1940.

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L. D. souBlER Er AL 2,212,483

MOLD CHARGING DEVICE Original Filed March 13. 193'( '7 Sheets-Sheet l 197 /f/ 7 f ATTORN S.

Aug. 20, 1940. x..- o. sbuBlER z-:T Al,

MOLD CHARGING DEVICE' Original Filed March 13. 1937 7 Sheets-'Sheet -2 RS er "h Aug'.v 20, 1940. L.. D. souBlER er AL MOLD CHARGING DEVI CE '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 13, 195'! 1N T 13.1160111122; 05g

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MOLD CHARGING DEVICE Original Filed March 13, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToRs ubz'er qw .Hoge v 1 ATToRN s.

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JR l W /M /CN/ wm Aug. 20, 1940. L.. D. soUBlER ET Al.

MOLD CHARGING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Mach 13, 1937 VHIIIIIID" Aug. 20, 1940. L.. D'. souBu-:R ET AL MOLD CHARGING- DEVICE original Filed March 15. 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS bier' QM? JR.Hq9e, BY

A-TTO YS.

L. D. sUBlEREr A1. 2,212,483

Aug. 20, 1940.

' MOLD- CHARGING DEVICE Original Filed March 13, 1957 7'Sheets-Sheet 7 WH A DH; .L

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 i .UNITED STATES PATEN'I i ori-Icev MOLD` CHARGING DEVICE A YLeonard D. Soubier and John Ralph Hoge,

` Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March 13, i937, serial No. 130,660

Renewed January Ll, 1940 A Y Y 18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus'-4 for molding and curing resinous materials and relates vmoreparticularly to means for transferring measured charges of moldable resinous material from a source of supply to the molding and curing apparatus.

"Theautomatic feeding of charges' of resinous materia-lis not entirely new, inasmuch as it is common kp 're .ctic' to move a material containing hopper ever a stationary mold plate to thereby simultaneously charge a plurality of mold cavities formed in said plate .with quantities of moldable material, thereby using the mold cavity itself as v a measuringI device and thereafter sliding the hopper'-from its.'v charging position to an idle position with a scrapingv contact between the upper surface of the mold plate and the lower face of thehopper to level oil the mold charges.

Therefore, it is considered new in theart to provide a mechanism that will segregate a measured quantity of inoldable material from a supply body, transfer 4it to a position removed from said supply body, andthen .discharge it into the cavity or cavities `of a movingA or relatively movable mold. .l l

In thepresent invention there are numerous i objects contemplated and among these is irst, to provide an automatic mechanism for transferring in succession measured charges of material from a container toa 'series of -relatively movable mold cavities.

y"Another object `is the provision of novel means for feedingv in succession suitable' charges of moldable'material to molds of different capacities.

A further object is the alternate feeding of large and smallV quantities of moldable material and insuring the` proper quantity being charged into each mold f zavity.l A still further object is the feeding of like measured quantities of moldable material to the plural cavitiesv of a single mold or series of molds;

A further object is the provision of means whereby the lquantity of material fed to each mold cavity maybe accurately regulated.

Another object is the provision of means whereby varioussizes and shapes ofv articles may be maufactured on the machine at the same time. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

M ,1 'In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational View through one head of the machine taken at line I I on Fig.. 4, illustrating one position of the charging mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a frontelevational view of one end 5 of the machine showing two' heads of the machine and feed mechanism control cams therefor;

Fig. 3 is a sectional planview taken at line 3-3 on Fig. 2 of a portion of themechanism for movlo ing the charging mechanism control cam sections into operative position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View` taken at the line 4 4 on Fig.v 1, showing the relation of mold heads, the single and multiple cavitied molds, and with the charging mechanism in charging position with relation toa multiple mold;

Fig. 5 is -a sectional elevation View taken at line 4 4 on Fig.l 1, showing the feeding orl charging mechanism in anotheroperating position with 20 respect to a multiple cavitied mold;

Fig. 6 isa part sectional elevation view taken approximately at line 4 4 on Fig. 1, showing the charging devicein charging position with respect to a single-cavitied mold; `25

Fig. '7 is a detailed view of one of the automatic cam portions for retaining the charging mechanism in inoperative position with respect to the molds;

Fig. 8 isa detailed View of one manner in which 301 a multiple cavitied mold may be constructed;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view taken approximately at line 9 9 on Fig. 1, showing the cam mechanisms for controlling the charging device in its operative rand inoperative` positions;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of oneof the charging mechanism controlv levers; I

Fig. l1 is a detailed View in sectional elevation taken at line vI I II on Fig; 9, of one of the automatic cam members in retracted position;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional plan View taken at the line I 2 I2 on Fig; 2,v showing theslide construction for-r the control cams of the charging device; .1 f- Y Fig. 13 is a view of the hydraulic speed Control 45 meohanism,fillustrating the solenoid control for varying the speed of the main drive or control shaft to thereby vary'the curing cycle of the machinep 1 v i Figpl isa detail sectionalview taken at line 50 lll-I4 on 13, ofthe mechanism for retailiing'the charging mechanism cam control blocks in eitherr their operative or inoperative position;

Fig. 15 is a sectionalelevational view through the speedchangingInechanismvof Fig.k 13; and 55 Fig. 16 is a part sectional elevation taken at line ll-II on Fig. 9, showing the cam control block in raised position.

Mechanisms for molding and curing resinous materials as illustrated in the accompanying drawings are, with the exception of the material charging device, identical with those shown and describedin our Patent #2,202,797 dated May 28, 1940, and therefore only a brief descriptive rsum of these mechanisms shall be given in order to provide a proper basis for the actua-v tion' of the charging device, which, of course, is the main object of this present invention.

Although the above mentioned co-pending application shows a charging device of a construction somewhat similar to that of the present application, it would not be possible with the particular mechanisms shown in the co-pending case to obtain automatically and in succession charges of molding material that diier o-r vary as to quantity. Accordingly the present mechanism is of, acharacter that allows regulation and presentation in succession, mold charges of varied quantity and at the same time allows the simultaneous manufacture of articles of various sizes andl shapesk on the same head and same machine.v

The apparatus contemplated in accordance with the teachings of this invention may be va-ried yin anumber of different ways but for the purposeof illustration and description, a specic apparatus will be herewith disclosed.

The mechanism in general consists of a series of molding or-curing heads arranged in a straight line and enclosed in anoven or chamber which is heatedthrough the medium of electrical heating elements individualv to the molding heads and controllable individually as to temperature.

y Each headconsists of a table or carrier supporting two or more molds, which table is arranged within the heated oven for intermittent indexing to bring its molds successively to charging, charge preheating 'and final forming and curingfpositio-ns. 'Ihese heads also have individual thereto forming mandrels andv hydraulic cylinders which incidentally are common to the molds on each head and arranged in vertical alignment .with each other in order that each mold on the table may be b-rought in alternation to a position for-cooperation therewith and then placed under pressurefor-the final curing of the moldable material.

, Theindexing of the mold tables is synchroni'zed with operating mechanism for feeding' the molding materialrto the molds as well as operationof the. pressing mechanism.

In the feeding of charges to the molds, a hopper orY container for a quantity of the moldable materialY is-employed and arranged for travel back and forth along the front of the molding oven or chamber. The movement of this hopper in one direction not only indexes the mold tables to present empty molds tothe charging positions periodically, but also causes measured charges of the material to be placed in the cavitiesof the molds of -eachftable in succession, while the movementin the opposite direction is merely an idle stroke so far as `charging of the molds is concerned and provides a means of obtaining a curing interval in the molding cycle as will be hereinafter; explained;l This hopper device also carries mechanism which allows adjustment of the time of-mold charging relative to mold indexing.

f Themechanism which reciprocates the hopper isconnectedtotwocam shafts, one for controlling the hydraulic pressing cylinders and one which controls the application of air or fluid to the mandrel for cooling and to the mold for cleaning. This first mentioned cam shaft has mechanism thereon which allows the proper sequential timing of the several operations of each molding head, as well as the sequence of operation of the heads relative to each other. Likewise, the second cam shaft allows the proper sequential timing of the application of air or fluid to each molding mandrel and mold.

The removal of the molded articles from the machine is an operation that can be definitely set with respect to the stripping of the mold from the formed article and, therefore, does not renuireV adjustment. 'I'he article removal is accomplished by means of a rotating disk which is actuated by the withdrawal of the pressing plunge from the mold at the pressing position.

The machine herein disclosed Y.consists primarily of a framework or base 2D', superimposed upon which is a head casting 2l forming an elongated oven or chamber for a series of forming or curing heads, each of which is provided with one or more molds 22. v

At one end ofthe frame is mounted a bracket 23 for supporting a hydraulic driving power unit 24, said unit being, of the ordinary commercial type and in turn driven vby an electric motor 25. This unit 24 is of the variable speed type in order that any desired driving speed may be obtained.

Attached to the power unit drive shaft is a horizontal drive shaft which is continuouslyrotated and has formed in its periphery and throughout its length, right and left. spiral screw n threads or slots 3l and 32, respectively, these. slots being interconnected at each end of the shaft,

3U by a semi-circular slot I9. The rotation of the shaft 30 supplies, through slots 3| and 32, means for moving a material container or hopper 33 to and fro along the front of the machine, as

well as supplying the actuating power for otherr operations of the machine.

At one end of the shaft 3B, which is supported in brackets-or extensions 34 of the head casting,

The charging mechanism consists of a hopperor material hopper 33 of a size sufficient to carry at least enough material to insure filling a complete set of molds for a predetermined period of time of operation. This hopper is mounted upon a slide 40, which is carried in horizontal slideways 4l formed on one side of the head casting 2l. Formed in this slide 40 beneath the hopper 33 and 'extending at right angles to the slidelll), is a slideway 42 which supports the charge transferring members 43 and 43a and serves to guide said members between a charging position beneath the hopper 33 to a'discharging position over a forming mold 22.

The slide has a depending bracket 44 which is slidably adjustable in slideways 39 on the slide 40 by means of a screw 45, for the purpose of changing the position'of the members 43 and 43a lengthwise of the slide 4U -to advance or retard the time of arrival of the charging members 43 and 43a at the charging position. Thus,

after actuation bythe rod 15, a lever 85 is mounted on a bracket 86 attached to `the front face of the head casting 2|, said lever `being fulcrumed as at 88 having a loose pin connection :81 with the rod 5. From the pin 81 to a pin 90 in a projection of the bracket 86 there is suspendeda vspring 92, this spring being under tension so that the rod 75 in either position is held by this spring tension in that position, thereby insuring retention of the blocks 10 in either the operative or inoperative position.

Referring to Figs. 7, 9, 11, and 12, it will be noted that the cam blocks 10 have removably attached to their upper ends small hardened steel blocks 95 and 96, these blocks being designed t0 fit in Whatever depression 52 is desired or formed at these points of control for the feeding mechanism. It will be noted that the cam rack 5,0 has definite cut-out portions or depressions 52 along its length into which are inserted removable blocks and |02, these blocks being of different lengths for the purpose of controlling the point or points at which the cam roll 62 will move inward to thereby cause the charging members 43 to move into a charging position `above molds 22. It will be noted on Fig. 9, particularly, that the block portions |0| and |02 could be interchanged as to their positions, thus moving the small depression to the point of the large depression or both may be made either large or small to control the deposit of either a single or double charge at either or both points.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be noted that the cam rack 50a has removable blocks 49 along its face, `arranged at predetermined points thereon to control the charging stroke of member '43, so that as the roll 63 reaches the depression 50b '(Fig. 4) the charging member 43al is projected into the oven and over mold 22 to drop its charge of material. From the foregoing, it is apparent that any desired type of operation along the length of the cam racks 50 and 50a may be obtained by interchanging the cam blocks 49, 95, 96, |0| and |02.

As heretofore mentioned, the movement of the hopper 33 and charging members 43 and 43 to the left is always an idle stroke, there being no deposit of molding material into the molds during this movement, but during this time the material previously deposited in the molds is either preheating or under pressure for final molding.

The length of time required for the charging mechanism to make this return stroke necessarily controls to a great extent the time cycle of the curing of the molding material. Therefore, in order to have exact control over this portion of the cycle, the hydraulic speed control mechanism 24 is provided with a mechanism for automatically varying the speed setting of this control member. This mechanism consists 4of solenoids |05 and |0521, the cores '|06 and |El|a of which are attached by links V|01 and |0'|a to a lever |08 pivoted on a horizontal shaft |09. This shaft |09 is mounted in a bracket ||0 which forms a part of the housing 24. Mounted Von the end of the shaft |09 is a sector gear This sector gear is in mesh with a pinion ||2 loosely mounted on the control shaft ||3 of the speed changing device 24.

In order to provide a means for selecting the proper speed ranges, a lever I8 is secured tothe 'shaft |I3 and the pinion ||2 is loosely mounted on said shaft but attached thereto by a spring 'pin I9, said pin being arranged to be inserted in any one :of a series of holes formed fin Ithe pinion |2. 'Ihusybygremovingthe'pinl |39 from the holes |20, the shaft ||3 may tberotatedbyka handwheel |22 to set the normaldriving speed of the shaft at any desired speed and-in order to increase or decrease the speed, the solenoid actuated sector gear :is meshed at the desired points with pinion 2. Thus, it will be seenthat under normal circumstances, the shaft V30U`Will rotate at any predetermined speed andlfa's zthe switches 5 and |16 are actuatedat theloppo'- site ends of the charging devices travel, the speed of said shaft `30 will be increasedor-'decreased as is desired, thus allowing further regfulable control of the time cycle of' the molding and curing units. v f y i Referring to Fig. 13, it will `be assumed that the parts in the position show n allow the shaft`30 to be driven at the proper speed forA `movement of the material hopper on its chargingstroke and at the finish of this Stroke it is desired 'to'hav 20 the hopper returned to its original position at-a much slower speed to provide a longer vtime viin'- terval for the vcuring of the moldable material. Thus, when the rod 15 is shifted tol the right at the end of the charging movement of `hopper 33, the projection 19 contacts a button V| I5 of an electrical spring switch |23 (see Figs. `5 and 13N-'energizing the solenoid |051a to thereby move the s'ec'- tor gear to the right, rotating `the pinion'. I2fand l A shaft ||3 in a direction that Will-slowdown 'the 30 speed of the drive shaft 30. f A' 3f As the hopper returns on its slovr motion-and reaches the left-hand end ofthe machine, the shaft 15 win be actuated and moved to theieft, causing the projection 18 to contact the :button 35 ||6 of a second electrical spring switch |24'enr'- gizing the solenoid |05 and v'causing'ftli'e sector gear to move back to the position shown inE 13, thereby increasing the speed of the shaft 30 to that previously selected on the unit 24. In order to reverse these conditions, i.` e., cau the solenoid 05 to increase rather" than decrease the speed of shaft 30 and Athe solenoid |05 `"to decrease in place of increasing the speed of vshaft 30, then the wiring connection of eachsolenoid will be switched with veach other. f Molding mechanism The molding mechanisms in this machine are identical throughout the series of molding heads. Therefore, the description of the operat'cn 'of this mechanism will lin the main be confined* a single molding head. Y i

A molding head consisting of a table |30 'mount'- ed for rotation in the head castingV 2|' has at-V tached centrally 'of the lower face thereof',acy1in'` drical bearing or shaft extension |3| Attached by a. key |32 tov the lower end of shaft extensin |3| is a bevel pinion |33. `Meshing with this pini ion is a second bevel gear. |34 mounted on and attached lto a horizontal shaft |35 Vand supported in a bracket |36 attached `to --the loWerside-of-the head casting 2|. Permanently attached :to the shaft by means of a key |31 vis a -drivingor indexing member |38, which is for-med Withiin ternal indexing :or ratchet teeth |40 on `its inner periphery. Alongside nf this driving member and freely mounted upon the shaft |35 isa posii tive drive sector gear 4| having 'a ratchet pavvl |42 attached to its inner face, 'said wpawlbeing held against the ratchet teeth |40 of member v|393 by means of a flat spring |43. Thissectorfgear |4| is held in position -bymeansvof,acollarrl44 pinned to the shaft |35. In order drivel these power control di) various gears, a rack |45, attached to the lower face of slide member 41 and forming a part of the feeding mechanism slide 401s arranged to mesh with the sector gear |4| during the to and fro movement of the slide 40 along the front of the machine with the material-hopper 33. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that when the feeding mechanism or slide 40 is moving to the right, the rack 45 will engage the teeth of the sector gear I4 and rotate the gear clockwise,

such rotation in turn causing the indexing member |38 to rotate clockwise due to the meshing of the pawl |42 with the ratchet teeth |40. This motion is transmitted through the bevel pinion |33 and gear |34, causing the mold table |30 to rotate 180 and thereby reverse the position of the molds, that is, cause movement of one mold from a charge receiving position to a combined charge forming and curing position, while the other mold moves from the charge forming and curing position to the charge receiving position.

When the motion of the slide 40 is reversed and it moves to the left (Figs. 1 and 2), the rack 45 meshes with the sector gear |4| and this gear will be rotated counter-clockwise and the ratchet pawl |42 will be ineffective. Thus, no motion will be imparted to the drive shaft |35 upon the reverse movement of the slide 40 and rack |45.

However, to insure that the drive shaft |35 is not moved from its previously indexed position (see Fig. 2), a locking detent |50 is utilized, said detent b'eing projected into conical openings |5| in the member |38 by means of as pring |52 mounted in a bracket |36. An adjusting screw |53 provides means whereby tension through spring |52 to detent |50 may be regulated. In View of the fact that the indexing motion is limited to 180, it is only necessary that two locking openings |5| be provided in the driving member |38. However, more than two molds may be utilized on each table |30 which would necessitate more openings |5| and the changing of rack |45 to a suitable size. v

In order that the indexing of the tables may be properly coordinated, the rack |45 is formed with a dovetail tongue |55 mounted in a dovetail slot |56 formed in the lower portion 41 of the slide member 40. This construction allows the positioning of the rack |45 lengthwise of slide 40. in any desired manner, that is, it may be arranged to slightly precede the hopper 33 or succeed the hopper 33 as desired.

This adjustment, in combination with the adjustment previously described in connection with the charging mechanism, allows the obtaining of a cycle of operation of any desired character and the proper coordination of the charging mechanism and the indexing mechanism to therebtr control the time interval of charging relative to indexing of the molds as well as the control of the time interval that thecharge is being preheated in the mold.

After a mold 22 has been charged and indexed, it will then be in a position for cooperation with a forming mandrel 60, which is mounted in a boss |6| of the head casting 2 This mandrel is formed with screw threads |62 which allow it to be locked into the boss |6| and has a shank |63 extending through an opening |64 in said boss. Thus accurate vertical alignment of said mandrel relative to the mold 22 therebelow may be obtained. The lower end of the mandrel has a projection |65 which may be shaped to conform to any desired interior design of the article to be formed, but in this particular instance is formed with external screw threads which will 'cause .the

formation of internal screw threads on the are ticle being produced. f

When the mold table |30 indexes,.bringing a mold 22 to the forming and curingzposition, it is accurately secured in this position by means. of the locking member |50 of the indexingmechae ,nism previously described,l and in this position it is also in alignment with a pressure: applying member |61. 'lhis'member has a tapered coni` cal-shaped end |68arranged toi-lt intonacor.-v respondingly tapered cavity |69 formed inV the mold adapter |10. The-member |61 isr provided with a key |1l which rides in a keyway |12 formed in the casting 2|. When the table-M30 comes to rest after being indexed, akeyway |13 formed therein is brought into alignmentor reg istration with the keyway |12 formed in thecasting 2|, so that when themember |61 projects vertically upward through openings |141=in the table |30, the key |1| enters thekeyway |13, locking the table |30 with the head 2| so thatfthe mold 22 will be in exact registration withtheman-V drel' |60 during the formingand curing operations. ,p

In yorder to insure the seating of the moldy 22 on the member |30, there is provided a holding member |15 having a downwardly facing porer tion |16, said member extending partially aroundl the mold 22 and seating upon the shoulder |e11: of the mold, thereby locking said Y,mold between this member and the member |30. Thisholder |15 is welded as at |18 vto a tubular shaft |19, which is mounted in an opening formedin the tab-le shaft extension |3|. l

A spring |8| rests on a shoulder, |82 4of theshaft |19 and is held in position by ascrew cap |83.

threaded upon the upper endyof, member- 1130: Thus, it will be seenthat the pressure 'of ,the spring |8| is utilized.' to hold or retain' the holder |15 under tension on the. shoulder |11-J;of'the mold 22 and thereby clamp the mold ,between this member |15 and the tapered point |68 of the pressing member |61 when the moldis'being moved to and from the pressure formingr posiz-.r tion. y

In this manner the mold is at all times retained in proper position both vertically and horizontal-j4 1y and this member |15 also insures that asthe member |30 moves away from the pressuresmolding position to the position shownv in Fig. 1, the mold will be stripped from the formed article and follow the member |30 vertically downward and seat upon the aligning boss formed on the table |30. Moreover, this mem-ber 151being.lun,; der spring pressure retains themoldin position on the boss |85 during theltime thatthe ta-bles4 are indexed and prevents both horizontal, and vertical motion of said molds. fr; f

In order to move the moldsl to and from',mold. ing and curing positions as illustrated inFig,4 l;v vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders |884 havey been provided, these cylinders being of the-.or-f, dinary welded cylinder type` and mounted,v in brackets |89 attached to the frame 20 ofthe machine. Each cylinder is provided gapiston |90 mounted on a piston rod |9| Asaid piston' rod being loosely attached to the, member |61 by means of a pin |92. A spring |93 mountedin the cylinder |88 is utilized tocause a downward motion of the piston |90 after it has-finished its pressure stroke during the forming operation.

In order to actuate these cylinders |.88, a;va1vje mechanism has been providedwhich consists of a valve |94 connected toa source .of hydraulic A similar material.

, the left of the center of each' mold table.

pressureby a pipe |95 and' having aconnection |96 with thelower end, of the cylinder |90. as well as an exhaust pipe |91 which conveys the previously used operating fluid back to a reservoir (not shown) of the ordinary type usedin hydraulic operation. Referring to Fig. i, it will be noted that the piston |90 is shown on its upward travel, that is, the valve 69d is in such position that they fluid -under pressure has entered through the pipe |95 and passed through the valve |94 to pipeY |96/into the cylinder, causing the piston to be moved to its upper position and held under pressure for a predetermined time, thus raising the mold 22 to the pressing position. v Y

The shifting of the valve i9@ toy actuate the cylinders |88 in timed relation is cam controlled and will be describedhereinafter. The retraction of the piston |90- is accomplished by shifting the valve |94 to bringthe chambers of the valve into registration withpipes |99 and |91, thus allowing the fluid to return to the reservoir (not shown) through pipe |91. When thisvalve is shifted, releasing the pressure-under the piston |90, a spring |93 becomes active and forces the piston downward, retracting the member |61 and through the action of spring glBI on the stripper yoke |15, the mold 22 is caused to descend and seat upon the projection 85 of the indexing table |30. The descent Aof the mold at this time causes it to strip itself from the formed resinous articles.

In order to control 'the cylinders |88 of the various heads on the machine, a cam shaft 3l' mounted in brackets |99- attached toframe Eil has been provided. Mounted upon this cam .shaft are series of pairs of cams, each pair being individual to a head, and controlling the actuation of the cylinders |88. This cam shaft 37 is driven by the shaft 30 thro-ugh connecting chain 38, pinion 35 and sprocket gear 30, attached to shaft31. y Y' In order to remove this formed article, it 'is necessary tol apply-force in some shape or form to loosen it from said'm'andreland, in this particular instance where a molded cap having an internal screw thread is being formed,'this force isapplied in the form of rotation thro-ughA the medium of a disk 205 formed of asbestos `or some This ldisk is soy -shaped that as it is rotated in the proper direction,'its periphery 206 will contact the outer peripheral'surface of the formed cap and cause tto be unscrewed from the mandrel |65.` As this force is applied to rotate the cap ina counterclockwisemanner,

it will be apparent that as the cap vunscrews and reaches the lower limit of the mandrel, it will be thrown sideways and, in order lto guide this cap as it is thrown, arguard '1- is provided to This guard prevents the cap from ilying over intothe adjacent molding heads and causes it to drop downwardlyinto a cone-shaped depression 20B from whence it drops through a pipe 209 to a control gate 2|0. Y

From the foregoing descriptiomit should-now be apparent that a definite charging and molding cycle prevails in this mechanism, and that more than one charge may be delivered toy each head and, moreover, that the quantity of molding material delivered to each head may be varied.

By referring to FigsA, 5 and 6, it will be noted that' the table.|30 designated as yA carries a set of molds arrangedin-.pairscn,each side ofthe table and that themoldiA.1 hasta different yshape than mold A2. Also inthesenvewatable 7IB Scar-.4 fries a single mold at its opposite ends, thismold having a cavity B1 of 'considerable' sise. andas: a matter of fact a capacity equal to the; combined capacities of molds A1 andy A2; From this,fit will be clear that different designs may beimadesimultaneously on this machine and varying sizes may also be produced simultaneously.

In order to control the quantity ofinoldable l material inthe charges supplied tor thevarious mold cavities, there is providedvan adjustment on the charging members Q3 and 43a, whichwijll vary the volume of the cavities G8 andf-.afrefe spectively of these charging members. Toward this end, the feed members i3 and lia'areforme'd in two parts which are adjustablerelativefto each other by means of adjusting screws 2|5` arranged between the members it and 95a and their inner adjustable parts 2 it. This allows the capacity-'fof the cavities (i8 and (58a to be Variedand regusie mold head including a mold provided with a' single mold cavity, a second stationary mold `head1 indeL' pendent of said first mold` head and -includinga mold provided with a plurality of' adjacent `mold cavities, a container for the moldable Ymaterial; means for moving said container past said molds in succession, and means movable with thelcon tainer for transferring a measured charge of saidV material from said container to the rnoldcavit'y'A of said first mold and forftranfsferring.aj-meas? f ured charge of said. material from said container successively to each mold cavity ofsaid second mold as said container passes said molds.

2. In an apparatusfor =molding articles from synthetic resins or ike molda-ble materials bythe application of heat and pressure, amold'provided with a plurality of mold cavities,l a second and independent mold provided vwith a 'single moldcavity, a container for the moldable material,

means for moving said container lpastv said molds in succession, and means for transferringa measured quantity of material 'from said container successively to each mold cavity of 'saidwfirstinold and for transferring a plurality of measured quantities simultaneously-to the moldfc'avityof the second mold as said container passes"v said m01d5 f. Y, am

3. In an apparatus for molding articles fromv synthetic resins or like'moldable materialsby'the application of heat and pressure, aimold provided with a plurality of adjacentmold cavitiespaseci ond mold provided with a single mold cavity, the capacity of said single mold cavitybeingequalto the sum total of the capacitiesof said 4othfermold cavities, a container forthe moldable material, means for moving said container past said'moldsv in succession, and means for transferrngaincas-v ured quantity of said material from said'containa' er successively to each mold cavity .of ,saidfirst mold and for transferringaA plurality '.of'ilike measured quantities the number. of which corresponds to theV number of vmold 1 cavities :provided in said rst mold simultaneouslyv to the mold cav-1 ity of said second mold as saidcontainer passes Saidmolds..

1 ,54,-2'An apparatus rfor molding articles from synthetic resin or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure comprising in combination a frame, a series of fixed molding Aheads supported thereon and arranged in straight line formation, each head including a mold, certain of said molds having a single mold cavity and others .of said molds having plural mold cavities, means lfor repeatedly and continuously moving said container'p-ast said heads in succession, and means-movable with the container for simultaneously transferring a plurality of measured quantities of said material to the mold cavity of each of. said first specified molds and for transferring a single' measured quantity to each mold cavity of said other molds successively as said container passes said heads. i5. Ana-pparatus for molding articles from synthetic, resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure comprising in combination a frame, a series of vfixed molding heads supported thereon, each head including a mold each .mold having a mold cavity, a containerjfor the moldable material, means for repeatedly and continuously moving said container past said heads in succession, and means movable with the/.container for successively and selectivelysegregating and transferring a measured quantity ,of said material to the cavity of the respective mold of each head, the volume of each quantity segregated being in proportion to the capacity ofthe respective cavity to which it is transferred. f, 6. An apparatus for molding articles from synthetic resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure comprising in combination a frame, a series .of fixed molding heads :supported thereon, each head including a mold,certain.of said molds being provided with plural mold'.A cavities and others of said molds =being provided with a single mold cavity, a container for the molda'ble material, means for moving said; container repeatedly and continuously pasty saidheads, and means operable upon such movement-of thek container for transferring successively a single measured quantity of said mat'erial from said container to each mold cavity of said first specified molds and for transferring a number ofA like quantities simultaneously to each moldfcavityV o f said yother molds. Y 7. :An apparatus for molding articles from synthetic resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat land pressure comprising in combination a frame, a series of fixed molding heads supported thereon in straight line formation, each head including a mold, a container for the moldable'material, means for moving said container past said lheads in succession, and means operable upon such movement of the container for Aselectively transferring from the container to said heads one or more like quantities yof the Amoldable material for delivery to said molds. v

8. In an apparatus for molding articles from syntheticvresins or like materials, a mold provided Wifthfa pair of mold cavities, a container for the moldable material, a discharge outlet in the botto'm'of said container, means for moving said container past said mold, a material transfer device positioned beneath said container and movable therewith, said device including a pair of super imposed charge transferring members, each memb'erbeing vprovided with a charge receiving 'cayit'mfsaid members being individuallymovable from@*retractedposition with the cavity thereof in register with said discharge outlet to receive a charge of the material to an extended position with the cavity thereof in register `With roneof said mold cavities to deliver its charge thereto, means for maintaining said members in theiry retracted positions prior to movement of said container past said mold, means operable during-.a portion of the movement of said container past said mold for moving the lovvermost member to its extended position to deliver the charge contained in the cavity thereof to one of said mold cavities, and means operable during another portion of said movement for moving the uppermost member to its extended position to deliver the charge contained in the cavity thereof to the other mold cavity. l j 9. In a plastic molding machine, a mold provided with `a pair of mold cavities, a container for moldable material, a discharge outlet in Athe bottom of said container, means for moving said container past said mold, a material transfer device positioned beneath said container and movable therewith, said device including a pair of superimposed charge transferring members, each member being provided With a charge receiving cavity, said members being` individually movable from a retracted position Withthe cavities thereof in register with each other and vwith said discharge outlet to an extended position yto transfer charges of the material from said con-r tainer to the cavities of said mold, the cavities of said members being in register With each other When said members are both in their extended position, means for maintaining said members in their retracted positions prior to movement of said container past said mold, meansv operable during a portion of the movement of said container past said mold for moving the lowermost 'member to its extended position to deli-ver 'thecharge contained in the cavity thereof tof one' of said mold cavities, and means operable during another portion of said movement for moving the uppermost member toits extended position to deliver the charge contained in the cavity thereof to the other mold cavity through the'cavity in the lowermost member. 1' i l0. In an apparatus for molding articles froml synthetic resins or like materials, a mold provided with a pair of mold cavities, a container for the moldable material, a discharge outlet in the bottom of said container, means for moving' rsaid container past said mold in a straight line path parallel to the line of said mold cavities,`a material transfer device positioned beneath said' container and movable therewith, said device including a pair of superimposed charge transfer'- ring members, each member being 'provided vvith a charge receiving cavity, said members being individually movable from a retracted positionv with the cavities .thereof in register with each other and with said discharge outlet to an expast said mold, means operable during auportionr of the movement of said container past said mold for moving the loWermost member to rits extendedl positionA to deliver the charge contained, in the cavity thereof to one of 'said ,mold cavities, and

,means operable during another portionofsaid movement for moving the uppermost-member .to its extended position todeliver the .chargecon-l tained in the cavity thereof to lthegothermold '15? cavity through the cavity in the lowermost member.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, achamber having a side wall-formed with a horizontal series of feed openings, molding devices positioned within the chamber in the vicinity of said feed openings, means for heating the chamber, a container for moldable material common to all of the molding devices, means for effecting relative movement between the chamber and container whereby the latter is brought into alignment with the feed openings one at a time, a charge transferring device adapted for projection through the feed openings to deliver charges of the moldable material from vthe container 'to the molding devices, means for actuating said device, and means'for causing said transferring device to deliver a single charge to certain of said molding devices and` tol deliver a plurality of charges to others of said molding devices.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a chamber having a side wall formed with a hori- Zontal series of feed openings, molding devices positioned within the chamber in thervicinity of each feed opening, means for heating said chamber, a container for the moldable material, means for effecting relative movement between the chamber and container whereby the latter is brought into alignment with the feed openings one at a time, a discharge opening in the bottom of said container, a pair of sliding cutoff members positioned beneath said container and positioned one above the other, each member having a cavity formed therein, said members being movable to a position wherein said cavities are in register with each other and with said discharge opening, means operable upon movement of said container into alignment with certain of said feed openings for projecting one of said members, including the cavity thereof, through said feed openings to deliver a charge of said material to the respective molding devices thereof, and means operable upon movement of said container into alignment with others of said feed Vopenings for projecting both of said members including the cavities thereof through said latter feed openings to deliver plural charges of said material to the respective molding devices thereof.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a chamber having aside wall formed with a horizontal series of feed openings, molding devices positioned within the chamber in the vicinit37 of eachrfeed opening, means for heating said chamber, a container for the moldable material, means for effecting relative movement between the chamber and container whereby the latter is brought into alignment with the feed openings one at a time, a discharge opening in the bottom of said container, a pair of sliding cutoff members positioned beneath said container and positioned one above the other, each member having a cavity formed therein, said members being movable to a position wherein said cavities are in register with each other and with said discharge charges of said material to the respective molding devices thereof.

14. In an apparatus for molding articles from synthetic resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure, a frame, a series of aligned molding heads carried thereby, a heating chamber associated with each head, a mold disposed within each heating chamber, a container for the mo-ldable material, means for moving said container vfrom an initial position in one direction past said heads in succession', means for successively transferring measured charges of said material from said container to the respective mold of each head as said container passes said heads, means for moving said container in the other direction to return the same to its initial position, means for rendering said transferring means inoperative duringthe return movement of said container, and' means for regulably varying the speed of movement of the container during the return movement thereof.

15. In an apparatus for molding articles from synthetic resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure, a frame, a series of aligned molding heads carried thereby, a heating chamber associated with each head, a mold disposed within each heating chamber, a container fory the moldable material, means,

for moving said container from. an initial position in one direction past said heads in succession, means ,forA successively transferring measured charges of said material from" said container to the respective mold of each headk as said container passes said heads, means for moving said container in the other directionv to return the same to its initial position, means for render'- ing said transferring means inoperative duringy the return movement of said container, and means automatically operable to increase the speed of movement of the containerA during the return movement thereof.

16. In an apparatus for molding articles from synthetic resins or like moldable materials by the application of heat and pressure, a frame, a series of aligned molding heads carried thereby, a heating chamber associated with each head, a mold disposed within each heating chamber, a container for the moldable material, means for moving said container throughout a charging stroke from an initial position in one direction past said heads in succession,'means for successively transferring measured charges of imy said material from said container to the respective mold of each head as Asaid container passes said heads, means for moving said container in the other direction to return the same to its initial position, means for rendering said transferring means inoperative during the return movement of said container, and means operable upon completion of the charging stroke of said container for increasing the speed of movement of the container during the return move'- vment thereof.

17. In an apparatus for molding articlesvfrom synthetic resins or like moldable materials. by the' application of heat and pressure, a frame, a series of aligned molding heads carried thereby, a heating chamber associated with each head, a mold disposed within each heating chamber,

a reciprocable container for .the moldable material movable from an extreme position at one end of said series of lheads through av charging stroke to an extreme position at the other end of said series and vice versa, driving means op'- erable at a predetermined rate of speed for reciprocating the containenvmeans for transferring measured charges of said material from said container t'o the respective molds of each head as said container passes said heads during the charging stroke thereof, means adapted to be engaged by said container .at the completion of the charging stroke thereof for increasing the speed of said driving means, and means adapted to be engaged by said container at the completion of the return stroke thereof for restoring the normal speed of said driving means.

18. In an apparatus for delivering measured charges of granular moldable material to molds, a container for the materials having a discharge opening therein, a feeding device for transferring the material from the discharge opening to the ing movable to a position wherein said cavities.

are in register with each other and with the discharge opening, means fo-r eiecting relative movement between the apparatus and the molds, and means actuated by such relative movement for selectively projecting the cutoff members to a position wherein the cavities thereof deliver charges of the material from the container to the molds.

LEONARD D. SOUBIER.

JOHN RALPH HOGE. 

